About Us:

Valent BioSciences LLC is a worldwide leader in the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of biorational products for the agriculture, public health, and forestry markets. We have more than 60 years of experience bringing biorational products to market, and our products are used in sustainable operations in 95 countries around the world. Biorational products maximize plant quality, productivity, and sustainability.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical, Valent BioSciences LLC operates with the Sumitomo Spirit mindset, which means to benefit both self and others, recognizing that private and public interests are one and the same. It’s about contributing to society, as well as making a profit.

Description of Job:

This strategic R&D management role leads the Field R&D (FRD) Department which is integral to the new product development and product life cycle management processes for biorational agriculture products. The FRD team designs and oversees complex global field programs for R&D/new product development and product life cycle management in close collaboration with internal functional groups, including Global Research, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing/Business Management, Manufacturing and Project Management Office. This position serves as the primary point of contact for Valent Biosciences field research and development activities with corporate affiliates and external Contract Research Organizations and, as such, is responsible for overseeing execution of the global field R&D workplan, including budget management and execution of Technical Service Agreements and Field Research Contracts.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Ensure R&D Field Programs are in alignment with agreed-upon organizational priorities, as identified and justified by Marketing and Business Management and documented and tracked in the R&D Pipeline.

• Provides leadership in design, coordination, execution, interpretation of domestic and international field efficacy and residue experiments and programs.

• Provides efficacy results, interpretation and summaries to support commercialization of new products and to support new uses of existing products. Develops intellectual property and FTO around new products and uses where possible. Provides technical support to Regulatory Affairs for domestic and international product registrations, including the development of product use recommendations.

• Management of external collaboration relationships for field program activities, experimental design, evaluation and interpretation of scientific results, and communication of results and recommendations to upper management.

• Establishes and assures adherence to budgets, schedules, work plans, and performance requirements.

• Implements strategic policies when selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.

• Manages all personnel-related functions for direct reports, including performance management and personnel development planning.

Experience:

• Must have extensive experience with agriculture field trial management, in one or more of these applications: plant growth regulators, microbial or biochemical pesticides or biostimulants.

• Experience with biorational products applied to specialty crops highly desired.

• General management experience exceeding 5 yrs required, including direct responsibilities for R&D personnel and budgets.

• 2-5 years of project management experience desired.

• Key skill sets include motivational leadership, excellent written and oral communications, time management and technical negotiations.

Education:

• M.S. or Ph.D. degree in an Agricultural Science related field (e.g., Agronomy, Plant Biology, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology), with 8-10 years of related industry or academic experience.

Travel: 10-20%

What We Offer:

You’ll enjoy competitive compensation, consisting of base pay plus an incentive program available to all full-time employees, and a comprehensive benefits package including high-quality healthcare options, 401k matching, life and disability insurance, generous time off (with time off to volunteer) and much more! Additionally, we offer several Flexible Work Arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance.

We work together to power our sustainable future. Here's what drives us: Valent BioSciences, LLC has a strong commitment to both sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In fact, being a responsible corporate citizen has been ingrained in our culture since the company’s founding. Today, it remains at the forefront of everything we do.

• Valent BioSciences LLC is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and/or identity, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disabilities, or protected veteran status.

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